Use of ellagic acid dihydrate in food products and nutraceuticals

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to food products, cosmetics, and/or nutraceutical compositions and methods of use. The compositions can include an ellagic acid dihydrate compound that assists in the uptake of glucose.

1 - 51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . A method of treating a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a composition comprising an ellagic acid dihydrate compound, wherein the compound is capable of providing a greater increase in glucose uptake as compared to an increase in glucose uptake provided by free ellagic acid. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the subject has been diagnosed with Type I diabetes, Type II diabetes, gestational diabetes, latent auto-immune diabetes of adulthood, an insulin resistant disease, prediabetes, clinical obesity, a metabolic syndrome, a liver disease, a kidney disease, a coronary heart disease, a cognitive disease, a hyperglycemic disorder, a glucose metabolism disorder, being overweight, or a disease associated with advanced glycation end products, or is a pregnant woman or woman of childbearing age with a risk of having birth defects in her fetus. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the ellagic acid dihydrate compound assists in:
 a) increasing glucose uptake, reducing a maximum mean glucose concentration in blood plasma;   b) increasing GLUT4 concentration at a cellular membrane, increasing in ruffling of filopodia at the surface of a cell;   c) increasing a ratio of p44/42 MAPK to phosphorylated p44/42 MAPK in a cell;   d) increasing a ratio of AKT to phosphorylated AKT in a cell;   e) increasing a cellular energy level,   f) controlling the body weight of the subject; or   g) combinations thereof.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the composition provides a maximum mean glucose concentration in the plasma of said subject of 120 to 160 mg/dl after administration of a dosage of 0.5 mg/kg to 5 mg/kg of the ellagic acid dihydrate compound. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the ellagic acid dihydrate compound is represented by the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  are each independently selected from a hydrogen (H), a C 1 -C 20  alkyl or ether group, an acyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, an amide, an amino acid, and a heterocyclic group, and X is a heteroatom. 
       
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the ellagic acid dihydrate compound consists essentially of: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the composition is administered orally. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the subject is administered between 0.005 and 100 mg of the ellagic acid dihydrate compound/kg of the subject daily and wherein the ellagic acid dihydrate compound is capable of providing an increase in glucose uptake under in vitro conditions as compared to an increase in glucose uptake provided by free ellagic acid. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the composition is administered as an edible composition. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the compound of the composition is administered in a dietary supplement, a nutraceutical, a food additive, a food product, a beverage, a solid nanoparticle, a lipid-containing nanoparticle, a lipid-based carrier, a sealed conduit, a straw, a tablet, a bottle, a sterile bag, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the subject is treated to decrease body weight and wherein the subject experiences weight loss after 7 days or more of administration of the composition. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the subject is treated to decrease body weight of the subject at least 5% or more after 30 days of treatment. 
     
     
         64 . A composition formulated for administration to a subject, the composition comprising an ellagic acid dihydrate compound, wherein the compound is capable of providing an increase in glucose uptake as compared to free ellagic acid. 
     
     
         65 . The composition of  claim 64 , wherein the ellagic acid dihydrate compound is represented by the formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         where R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  are each independently selected from a hydrogen (H), a C 1 -C 20  alkyl or ether group, an acyl group, an aryl group, an aralkyl group, an amide, an amino acid, and a heterocyclic group, and X is a heteroatom. 
       
     
     
         66 . The composition of  claim 64 , wherein the ellagic acid dihydrate compound consists essentially of: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
     
     
         67 . The composition of  claim 64 , wherein the composition is provided as an edible composition. 
     
     
         68 . The composition of  claim 64 , wherein the composition is comprised in a solid nanoparticle, a lipid-containing nanoparticle, a lipid-based carrier, a sealed conduit, a straw, a tablet, a bottle, a sterile bag, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         69 . The composition of  claim 64 , wherein the composition is provided as a powder, a tablet, a gel-cap, a bead, an edible tablet, a gelatin, a lotion, a transdermal patch, a liquid solution, a sealed bag, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         70 . A composition formulated for oral administration to a human subject for the treatment of a glucose metabolism disorder, the composition comprising an extract of a plant, the extract comprising an ellagic acid dihydrate compound being capable of providing an increase in glucose uptake as compared to free ellagic acid. 
     
     
         71 . The composition of  claim 70 , wherein the extract comprises 75% or more of the ellagic acid dihydrate compound.